Celebrate Valentine’s Day With This Kiss-Proof Red Lip From Brandon Maxwell

To say that the beauty market has reached peak saturation point when it comes to lip kits might be the understatement of the century. That said, major red mouths seen on supermodels like Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, and Jourdan Dunn at Brandon Maxwell’s Fall 2018 show might be the best excuse to assemble a box set that we’ve witnessed in a while. (Kylie Jenner, eat your heart out.) Like the designer’s ball-gown-and-black-hoodie combo, makeup artist Tom Pecheux instantly elevated a basic ruby lip with a “thread of gold” on and just above the natural lip line using a new, ultra-pigmented and shimmery gloss formula from MAC Cosmetics (launching at the end of 2018) in Prosper and an angled eyebrow brush for precision. To add a dose of scintillating sparkle, he topped the creamy formula with MAC Glitter in Reflects Gold. Then, he filled in models’ mouths with Cherry Lip Pencil, leaving a thin strip of gold showing—not “a skinny, mean line,” noted Pecheux—and added a layer of Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Feels So Grand for a vivid, matte effect. The finishing touch: A pop of gold in the center of the lower lip to create the illusion of fullness (“You know, the kind you usually get by injection,” joked the pro) and multiple coats of inky black mascara on top and bottom lashes. “Finish a tube!” Pecheux instructed one of his artists. The layered look was as elegant as it was unexpected—and budge-proof. Amilna Estevao put this pout to the ultimate test backstage by downing Dos Toros before hitting the catwalk. If this exquisite lip can withstand tacos, it will certainly hold up no matter what you get up to on Valentine’s Day.